A somber atmosphere has enveloped the Itori axis of Ogun State following a horrific midnight crash on the Eruku Bridge along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
According to a statement released on Sunday by Afolabi Odunsi, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), a gold-colored Toyota with registration number GGE722KJ lost control, somersaulted, and plummeted off the bridge.
The impact was so severe that the vehicle’s doors locked upon impact, trapping all 11 occupants inside as it fell. There were no survivors.
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
Operatives from the FRSC Itori Unit Command were deployed immediately to the scene. Due to the mangled state of the vehicle, officials and local volunteers were forced to dismantle the car piece by piece to recover the bodies.
The remains of the 10 men and one woman have since been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital morgue in Ifo.
"DUI AND OVERLOADING"
Initial reports from the FRSC highlight a deadly combination of negligence as the likely trigger for the accident. The sector command cited:
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Overloading: The vehicle was carrying 11 people, likely exceeding its safe capacity.
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Impaired Driving: Suspected driving under the influence significantly hampered the driver's ability to navigate the bridge.
OFFICIAL REACTION
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved families while issuing a stern warning to the public.
“Motorists traveling along the Abeokuta-Lagos route must exercise extreme caution, especially during night journeys. Adhering to speed limits and avoiding substances that impair judgment is not optional—it is a matter of life and death.” — Oludare Ogunjobi, FRSC Sector Commander.
